The Cheap Detective

"He knows every cheap trick, cheap joke, cheap shot and cheap dame in the book."

1978 1h 32m EN

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 110

ComedyCrimeMystery

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A spoof of the entire 1940s detective genre. San Francisco private detective, Lou Pekinpaugh is accused of murdering his partner at the instigation of his mistress—his partner's wife.

“He knows every cheap trick, cheap joke, cheap shot and cheap dame in the book.”

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Cast

Peter Falk
Lou Peckinpaugh
Ann-Margret
Jezebel Dezire
Eileen Brennan
Betty DeBoop
Sid Caesar
Ezra Dezire
Stockard Channing
Bess
James Coco
Marcel
Dom DeLuise
Pepe Damascus
Louise Fletcher
Marlene DuChard

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Robert Moore
Writers: Neil Simon
Languages: English, German
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

48 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, German.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Robert Moore, shot by John A. Alonzo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Patrick Williams. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Sidney Levin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Peter Falk and Ann-Margret and Eileen Brennan carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "He knows every cheap trick, cheap joke, cheap shot and cheap dame in the book.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0077321 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Robert Moore directs. John A. Alonzo behind the camera. Patrick Williams scores. Sidney Levin cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

148 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, German.
3Directed by Robert Moore, shot by John A. Alonzo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Patrick Williams. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Sidney Levin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Peter Falk and Ann-Margret and Eileen Brennan carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "He knows every cheap trick, cheap joke, cheap shot and cheap dame in the book.".
8IMDB entry: tt0077321 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.